McCollum takes tough line on ex-felons

TALLAHASSEE M-7 — Bill McCollum signaled Thursday that he will take a harder line on restoring voting rights to ex-felons than the position Charlie Crist staked out while campaigning for governor.

"I have a definite difference of opinion," said McCollum, a former congressman from Central Florida who will replace Crist as attorney general in January. Both are Republicans.

"I don't know at what level the governor-elect is saying he would... automatically restore. I'm sure he doesn't intend that for murderers and sexual predators. But I can just suggest to you there's a whole range of people who should not have their voting rights or civil rights restored," McCollum said at a gathering called to announce his transition team leaders.

Last month, during the campaign, Crist changed his position on felon voting rights. He said Florida should join most other states and allow automatic restoration for those who have served their sentences.

Crist said he would not allow automatic restoration of the right to carry a weapon, but did not object to letting ex-felons automatically regain their civil rights to vote, serve on juries and hold jobs on public boards. Democrats and African-Americans in the Legislature have argued the clemency process is unfair and hurts their party politically, with at least 500,000 ex-felons ineligible to vote.

McCollum announced his transition team will be led by Terry Griffin, an Orlando lawyer.